Deliver Me from Darkness: A Novel of the Paladin Warriors by Tes Hilaire

are you doing?”
    Logan’s voice broke whatever spell she was under. She managed to drag her gaze away from Roland’s hypnotic eyes and look over her shoulder. Logan’s eyes weren’t hypnotic, or red. They were heated, though, with fury as they sliced into his friend.
    “Get out of here, Roland. Now. Or I might open these doors myself.”
    And he meant it. There was no doubt about that. Roland seemed to know it too. He’d become as tense as steel as he shifted her behind him.
    Her heart hammered, torn between worry and disbelief. Was the idiot actually thinking of fighting a hall full of Paladin over her?
    Nuh-uh. No way. She slipped back around him, stubbornly placing herself between the two men. She was an independent woman perfectly capable of making up her own mind. And she’d already decided that she needed to meet the men who were, day in and day out, holding the line against the creatures responsible for her papa’s death.
    “I’ll be fine,” she said, giving Roland an awkward pat on his pectoral.
    “Of course you will, you’re coming with me,” Roland said.
    She shook her head, not sure if she was denying Roland or her stupid alter ego that seemed to be all in favor of her leaping into the vampire’s arms and letting him bring her back to his lair.
    “Karissa.”
    She looked up—bad move—and immediately fell back under the spell of his fiery gaze.
    Logan made a sound like a growl from behind her, his voice rising as he drew closer. “So help me God, Roland, if you don’t stop trying to enthrall her—”
    Enthrall me. Karissa jerked away, using one of the defensive moves Papa had taught her to break Roland’s grip and then scuttled back until Logan grabbed her arm and dragged her against his side.
    She looked down at the floor, positively crushed by her own obvious gullibility. Oh God, what an idiot. So much for willpower. Obviously she had none.
    “Karissa…I swear. I’m not trying to enthrall you.”
    Roland’s voice sounded rough and guttural, as if it pained him to be speaking the words. Why? Because he wasn’t used to someone breaking his enthrallment? Or could the vampire actually have a conscience about lying? But if that were the case, then why did she doubt herself?
    “I only want to protect you.”
    His words struck a chord deep below her breast. It’s what she felt when he held her. Besides the lust, he wanted to protect her, cherish her…love her.
    Love? Vampire? It’s official, Karissa, you’re certifiable.
    Pointedly averting her eyes, she said, “Please go, Roland.”
    “Karissa…”
    “No. I’d be the biggest fool in this room if I put my trust in you. Not with what you are.”
    She thought she needed to touch someone to tap into the gift her papa had passed down to her, but she swore, just then, that she could feel the ripping of Roland’s heart. If hurt could be measured in silence, then the heavy hush that fell on the room after her words could have drowned her in pain.
    She blinked back the unwanted moisture in her eyes, at the same time biting her bottom lip that threatened to quiver. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I can’t…I can’t trust myself around you.
    She wrapped her arms tighter around her ribs, concentrating on the centering presence of Logan beside her. Only it didn’t help. Logan seemed as confused and torn as she was right now. He was, however, determined to keep her from going with Roland.
    “Don’t leave her alone,” Roland warned, then spun around, melting back into the shadows of the dim room.

Chapter 7
     
    No sooner had the shadows closed around Roland when the door opened again.
    “Yo, Logan, what’s the holdup?”
    With one last furtive look at the place where Roland had disappeared, Karissa followed Logan’s firm tug on her arm and turned to face the Paladin who’d come out of the hall to retrieve them. The man had come to a halt inside the anteroom, his hand still on the handle of the massive door as he sized her up.
    Karissa was